Lawmaker: State should legalize pot

Sunday

Feb 10, 2013 at 1:47 PMFeb 10, 2013 at 1:49 PM

Shawn Kellmer

If state Sen. Daylin Leach gets his way, Pennsylvania would become the next state to legalize marijuana.

The Democratic senator, who represents the 17th District in suburban Philadelphia, is to introduce legislation at a press conference on Monday in Harrisburg to decriminalize the use of marijuana for any purpose in Pennsylvania.

Leach hopes to end what he calls the "prohibition" of marijuana and treat it the same as certain types of alcohol -- regulated by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and sold at Wine and Spirits Shops or by licensed beer distributors.

John Tew, Leach's legislative director, said existing laws are not effective.

"Prohibition doesn't make sense and hasn't worked," Tew said. "Most of the harm of marijuana comes from the prohibition than it does from the smoking of the plant."

A local drug abuse counselor who supports the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes said Leach's proposal is well-intended but worries that across-the-board legalization will harm children."We've succeeded in keeping it out of the hands of physicians but we can't keep it out of the hands of 12-year-olds," said Ed Pane, executive director of Serento Gardens Alcoholism and Drug Services, Hazleton, and a board member of Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana.

Under Leach's plan, approved stores would sell marijuana only to people over the age of 21, who could not resell the drug or use it in public or before driving. Also, employers would be free to prohibit workers from using marijuana.

Other senators, including one serving the Hazleton area, are flatly opposed to legalizing marijuana in any form.

Sen. John Gordner, R-27, Berwick, said he would oppose Leach's legislation, noting that it is not yet up for formal consideration.

"There is no support from my senatorial judiciary," Gordner said.

Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, Nanticoke, did not return calls for comment on Leach's proposal.

Kline Township police Chief John Petrilla believes any benefits of Leach's proposal are not worth the risk.

"It would be a mistake," Petrilla said. "There was talk about legalization of marijuana since the 1960s. It hasn't been done for a reason. It alters the state of mind. I believe it's a gateway drug. I feel more people might want to try it and they may be more prone to try other things."

However, Leach said criminalizing marijuana does far more harm than good.

"This policy destroys lives. We want to stop that from happening. We want to stop spending that money" on enforcing the current law, he said.Distributed by MCT Information Services